Best Brushless Cordless String Trimmers (2026)

This is the brushless trimmer for the job that makes people buy gas. A 16 inch dual-line head with 0.095 inch line is one of the heaviest setups in battery trimming, and the maker says the motor matches a 26cc gas trimmer and can take on 1 inch vines. Speed is listed up to 6,000 RPM, but it is the torque from the 60V system under load that matters.

The reload system is the second thing to notice. A twist-on head lets you refill line in about ten seconds with no manual winding, which the maker contrasts with a bump feed head, and a bump feed on a dual-line 0.095 inch head is a chore. Fast reloading is what makes a heavy line usable on a large property.

The cost is weight and platform: a 16 inch head and a 60V pack are heavier than any 20V tool here, and the battery fits only the 60V line. A 2.5Ah pack is modest, so a large property wants a spare. Clear grass from the head after use and store the battery indoors. A twist-reload head is also a good fit for people who find the line-winding on conventional spools fiddly, since the work is done in seconds at the edge of the lawn. On a property with ditches, buy a second pack first and a spare spool second.

Makita builds a brushless motor rated up to 6,000 RPM into a 13 inch trimmer on the 18V LXT platform. The maker claims up to an hour of runtime on a 4.0Ah battery, which, read as a best case, is a realistic figure for a 13 inch swath.

The tool is sold bare, so it suits those who already own LXT packs from other Makita tools. That is where the platform pays off: a drill, blower and trimmer can share two batteries. For someone starting from scratch, a battery and charger add to the cost, and the kit version of this trimmer is the more sensible entry.

The listing also points to the low-maintenance side of brushless: no gas, no oil mixing, no pull cord and low noise. It is a quiet, simple tool for a mid-sized lawn rather than a brush cutter. Check line length before each session and clear grass from the head. If you want more runtime, the maker's higher-capacity packs fit the same tool, and the savings from sharing packs across a drill and blower are real. Treat the one-hour claim as a ceiling for light grass, and expect closer to half in tall, wet growth.

The WG173 is the low-cost way to get a brushless motor, and it does more than trim. A 90 degree pivot head turns it into an edger, and a wheeled deck converts it into a mini mower, which is useful for small banks and slopes. Electronic Command Feed advances line at the push of a button, so there is no bumping.

The maker claims a 4.0Ah battery and a high-torque brushless motor give gas-like power, which should be read as a claim for light and medium growth, not for thick brush. A 20V pack is the weak point on a tool with a motor of this size, so expect shorter runs on high-density grass than the 60V models provide.

It is the one to buy for a small or medium lawn where versatility matters and a 16 inch swath would be overkill. Clean the pivot and the wheel area after use and keep the battery away from cold sheds. Be realistic about the mini mower mode: it handles light turf on a bank, not thick lawn, and the plastic wheels will not like stones. Used as intended, the three modes mean one machine replaces a trimmer and an edger, which saves storage space as well.

Two speeds make this brushless trimmer easy to match to the job. The low setting runs at 4,600 RPM for light trimming and edging and the high setting at 6,200 RPM for thick weeds, and the maker's runtime claim of 60 minutes on low and 36 on high shows what that choice costs.

The brushless motor is claimed to give 80 percent more stable power output, which is a way of saying the speed holds as the battery drains rather than fading. Auto feed handles the line, and a 14 inch swath is a bit wider than most 20V tools.

It is a smaller brand, so check parts and warranty before buying. The runtime figures are useful in that they are stated for both speeds, and they are a better guide than a single number. Use the low speed for most of the lawn and switch up only for the tough patches. That habit stretches the 4000mAh pack toward the 60 minute figure instead of the 36 minute one. When you buy a tool from a small brand, record the order date and keep the packaging, since warranty claims go more smoothly with proof.

This trimmer ties two 20V batteries together for more output, which is a common way to get 40V-class power from a 20V platform. A 14 inch swath, two speeds at 5,000 and 6,000 RPM and a brushless motor make a solid mid-range tool.

The listing gives a coverage figure: about 1,076 square feet per charge, roughly the size of 16 parked cars. It is an unusual way to state runtime and a more useful one than minutes, since it ties battery life to area. A lawn of that size is a small yard, so the larger the lawn, the more charges you need.

It uses two packs per session, so you need to own or buy a second battery. Clear grass from the head and keep both packs charged to half before winter storage. Because two packs discharge together, a weak pack in the pair can cut a session short even if the other is full, so keep them as a matched set. Charge them together and use them together.

The 80V version carries the same 16 inch swath as the 60V model but with a lighter 0.080 inch dual line and a bump feed head. Bump feed is simple and reliable, but it means tapping the head on the ground to advance line, which wears the head and wastes line on hard surfaces.

What the 80V platform gives you is a bigger battery family: the same pack runs the brand's mowers and blowers, so a household that owns those tools can add a trimmer without buying another battery. The 2.0Ah pack in the kit is small for a 16 inch head, so budget for a larger one.

It makes sense mainly for 80V owners. For others, the 60V model offers a heavier line and faster reload. Clear grass from the head and keep the line short enough not to overload the motor. If you do not already own 80V tools, the 60V model is the better first buy, because it brings a heavier line and a faster reload. If you do own them, it is the cheapest route to a 16 inch trimmer.